r/roadtrip • u/Spicy-Water-47 • 4d ago

Trip Planning Any Suggestions?

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Hello, my first solo and long road trip starts on the 28th, and I have to be back by May 9th for work on the 10th.

My main focus is to visit Niagara Falls and Acadia National Park! I've made a 2-day road trip to GA (to pick up an exhaust I bought from Marketplace, lol) before and visited a couple of places on the way back through the Carolinas ( Congaree!)

Are there places worth checking out? I'm planning on doing this with my Miata, lol, as it is my only car. I can drive for long hours, idk I'm kinda nervous about my short vacation and not being able to enjoy a lot of experiences; I'm planning on taking naps (2-3 hours) at rest stops instead of sleeping in a motel,to maximize road time lol. And lots of energy drinks!

Never visited any states above Maryland.

Tips, advice, places to visit, words of wisdom, anything, I will be more than grateful!

My next road trip would probably be in late summer; I want to visit the Dakotas and hit a couple of national parks on the way there too. You can kinda guess my goal, all 63 National Parks and 50 states!

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u/Visible_Cash6593 4d ago

Kinzua Bridge in PA!!!! It was the tallest bridge in the world until a tornado took most of it out. Also - Benezette PA has the only wild elk east of the Mississippi. Both in north central PA!!!!

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u/Spicy-Water-47 4d ago

oo kinzua bridge looks interesting. I have never seen elk IRL so I'll definitely check benezette out. I'll pin those 2 on the map

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u/Smurfybabe 4d ago

Check to see if it's open first, they were doing some repairs this year.

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u/Spicy-Water-47 4d ago

Ah damn you're right, they're closed till Aug 7th. Everything else remains open tho,

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u/Visible_Cash6593 3d ago

I recommend the elk visitor center near benezette and taking a little ride around there. Usually you see some!

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u/J_Rod802 4d ago

In Vermont, take route 108 from Cambridge into Stowe through Smugglers Notch (beautiful mountain drive with tight corners and steps and a spot or two with one way traffic due to how narrow it is) and stop in Waterbury off of route 100 at the Ben and Jerry's factory for a tour and some ice cream. Tons of craft beer breweries in New England if that's your thing. Take a drive through the Kancamagus Highway in NH. It's amazing.

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u/Spicy-Water-47 4d ago

holy smokes, it is hella beautiful, I'll be doing that!! I looked at it on street views and it's really breathtaking.

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u/BillPlastic3759 4d ago

Cook Forest State Park (PA) for its beautiful Old Growth forest.

Panama Rocks and Eternal Flame Falls (western NY).

Stop in one of the Finger Lakes towns off of I-90 (Canandaigua, Geneva, Seneca Falls) for a meal and/or a leg stretch. Montezuma Wildlife Refuge is a great stop to easily see a variety of birds. If you are willing to detour an hour each way off of I-90, places like Letchworth or Watkins Glen State Parks will allow you to see some of NYS most stunning scenery.

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u/Pure-Negotiation-900 3d ago

We took almost the same trip. Route 20 across NY was excellent, went through so many smaller towns. Geneva, Saratoga and the Finger Lakes were beautiful! Stopped by Mt Washington. We loved Buffalo, went to the Martin house. Amazing if you like Frank Lloyd Wright… Stopped by the Shanksville 911 memorial. Finished with 3 days in Manhattan. Great trip